The Rising Level of Health for Elderly with Public Health Insurance

• In Event: 082 - Open Refereed Roundtable Session I
  In Refereed Roundtable: A. Table 23. Medical/Health I

Abstract

The United States is simultaneously witnessing an aging of its population and an uptick in its efforts to expand public health insurance. It therefore becomes important to understand the relationship between these two factors, particularly how policy actions such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 have the potential to influence the health of the elderly. Utilizing data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), this paper looks to expand the understanding of the relationship between health and public health insurance for those aged 65 and older. In the years of interest, 2007-2013, results show that there is indeed a closing of the health gap between those with and without public health insurance. While the results are not directly attributable to the ACA, this paper does shed light on the importance of expanding sociological understanding of the health consequences of policy level changes.

Author

• Andrea Tilstra, University of Colorado-Boulder